Apparatus for making toast



July ll, 1950 H. G. TAToslAN u v2,514,977

APPARATUS FOR MAKING TOAST 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1947 n ,nlm .aM M l w l -1| Il!! I TMA/m al Q y Y. n

July ll, 1950 H. G, TAToslAN APPARATUS FOR MAKING TOAST 6 Sheets-Sheet.2

Filed May l, 1947 HTTORNE'Y July l1, 1950 H. G. TA-roslAN 2,514,977

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ToAsT Filed May 1, 1947 sheetshfeet s HTTRNEYINVENTOR. ry G. Tatoslaz /flrr ,July l1, 1950 Y H. G. TAToslAN-2,514,977

APPARATUS FOR MAKINGmoAsT Filed May 1, 1947 e sheets-sheet 4 Harr G.Tazvsul 2g 35 BY ya a 4 l m ZZ l Z3 @Tzwwwf July ll, 1950 H. G. TAToslANAPPARATUS FOR MAxNG ToAsT 6 Sheets-.sheetI 6 Filed May 1, 1947 'm kk w jThe present invention intoasting machines, and it has particularrelashown in Figure 11;,

Patented July 11, 1950 APPARATUS Fon MAKING 'roAstr Harry G. Tatosian,Bronx, N. Y., `assigner to King Kone Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 1, 1947, Serial No. 745,132

relates to improvements tion to an automatic toasting machine designedespecially for the manufacture in commercial quantities of Melba toast,

Y lin` object of .the invention is to provide a machine of a simple,durable and inexpensive construction capable'of toastingV under pressurelarge'quantities of bread slices for making Melba toast in an efficient,economical and sanitary manner.

, Another object of the invention is the provision of suitable means forautomatically slicing a plurality` yof spaced bread loaveslpositionedwithin a imagazine in an efficient and Sanitary manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide suitable means 4forautomatically positioning the individual bread slices on the toastingplatens in a neat and orderly spaced arrangement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of meansy for driving`the upper conveyor platens through suitable .driving connection withthe lower'conveyor platens', thereby providing synchronization of thetwo conveyors in a simple, efficient and economical manner.

Various other and further objects and advantages of the invention, whichresult in simplicity, reconomy and eiciency, will be lapparent from thefollowing detailed description, wherein apreferred form of embodiment oftheinvention is'` shown, reference being had for illustrative purposes;to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof, wherein likenumerals indicate ,like parts, in which- .i Figure 1 is a sideelevational view, with parts in section, of an automatic toastingmachine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention,`showingk the bread `magazine in its forwardr position at the beginningof its bread slicing stroke; f

A,Figure 2 is atop plan `vi'ew of the machine Figure 3y is an :enlargedfragmentary crosssectional gview, with parts inV elevation, and showing.the mounting for the reciprocating bread slicing carriage, the: breadmagazine and the rc.- tating cutting blade-with its several spacedguidmeans;-`

Figure. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of themach-ine shown in Figure 1, with several of the lower conveyor platensremoved for the sake of clearness illustrating the yinternal rdrivingmechanism therefor;

3 Claims. (Cl. 99-386) l 2 tudinal sectional view of the end of themachine shown in-Figure 4, the same having been taken substantiallyalong the line 5--5 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows;

`Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cutting bladeand one of its horizontal holders, the same having been takensubstantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 31ooking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cutting blade and theholders shown in Figure 6, illustrating further details regarding themounting of said rollers;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of one of the vertical guide rollers -whichengages the back edge of the rotating cutting blade for holding it in atransverse plane with respect to the bread magazine;

Figure- 9 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure l,the same having been taken substantially along the line 9 9 thereof,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic View illustrating thenormal relative position of the bread magazine and its revolving cuttingblade just prior to the start of the bread slicing stroke, whichposition is best shown in Figure 2;

Figure 1l is another diagrammatic view of that portion of the machineshown in Figure 10, the same illustrating the relative position of theseveral parts at substantially the middle of one of itsv bread slicingstrokes;

Figure 12y is a further diagrammatic view of the several parts shown inFigure 10, the same showing the relative position of the various partsat'the end of one of the bread slicing strokes;

Figure 13 isA still another diagrammatic View of the several parts shownin Figure 10, illustrating the relative position of the parts shortlyafter completion of one of its bread slicing `strokes and when the breadcarriage has been returned approximatelyv half way on its return stroke;

Figure 14 is a further diagrammatic view of the bread slicing mechanismwith its several parts returned to their normal position, as shown inFigure 10, and `illustrating the position of the last cut row of bread'slices on the toasting platen of the lower conveyor;

Figure l5 is a diagrammatic view showing the discharge of the nishedtoasted pieces from the lower` conveyor platens into` al suitablecontainer;

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view of a modifiedform of bread carriage, showing the normal relative position of the cut-Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longi- 55 ting blade and the breadmagazine at the `start ing driving studs 31, corresponding in size andshape to the recesses 34 of the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3| withwhich they are intended to engage in a driving arrangement. v

The opposite longitudinal ends of each of the adjacent platens 33 and 36of each of the conveyors 3| and 32 are mounted pivotal on a singletransversely extending axle 3B, which projects through an axle bar 39,which extends along opposite sides of each of the platens 33 and 36.

The axle bars 39 are secured removably to the undersidesgthereof by thebolts 42 (see Fig. 3).

Figure 18 is `a fragmentary diagrammatic view, of the apparatus shown inFigure lfillust'rating the manner in which the row 'of cut bread slicesis transferred from the receiving arm of the reciprocating breadcarriage onto the platens 'of the lower conveyor;

Figure 19 is another fragmentary View similar to Figure 18, in which therow rof cut bread slices has been transferred to the lower conveyorplatens and the various parts have been returned to their normalposition, which is shown in Figure 16, ready to begin the nextv cuttingstroke;- and Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional View showing therelative position of a plurality of rows of bread slices on ar lowerconveyor platen with` the last row of slices being moved forwardly intotransverse alignment on said platen by the forward end of the receivingarm of the reciprocatingbread slicing mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there isshown a relatively long lower rectangular box-like frame structure 2|,having a plurality of spaced uprights or legs 22 suitably connectedlongitudinally intermediate their ends with a plurality oflongitudinally extending and vertically spaced side plates 23. Mountedon the lower rectangular box-like' structure 2| intermediate its ends is-a relatively short upper rectangular box-like structure 24, having aplurality of spaced uprights or legs 26 formed integrally with theintermediate legs 22 of the lower frame ystructure 2|, and connected bya plurality of longitudinally extending and vertically spaced sideplates 21. The plates 23 and 31 are welded, bolted or otherwise securelyattached vto their respective legs 22 and 26. Each of the side plates,23 and 21 is provided intermediate its inner side The outer freel endsor journals 4| of each of the i axles38 havea roller 43 journalledthereon, which rollerw43- isladapted to operate over the endlesstrackways of their respective conveyors (see Fig. 4).

Thedriving mechanism for the lower conn veyor l3| (see Figs. 4 and 9)consists of longitudi- `with a longitudinally extending horizontal track`28, and the opposing tracks on opposite sides'of the framestructures12| and 24 provide suitable horizontal guideways or-trackways.The horizon- ,tal trackways 28 in both the upper and lower supportingstructures 2| and 24 are connected vat ,l

their opposite ends by looped end sections 30. The trackways 28 withtheir respective looped end -sections 3U provide upper and lower endlesstrack- .ways for supporting endless horizontal conveyors 3| and 32`adapted to have their inner sections operating in juxtaposition. Itwill be noted that a large central section of the lower horizontaltrackway 28 of the upper conveyor 36 is missing, as best shown in Figure1, for reasons to be here-l inafter described.` .l

The lower conveyor 3| consists of `a series of platens 33 connectedpivotally end to end to form an endless circular chain of platens. Eachof the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3| is provided with a pair oftransversely spaced apertures or recesses 34, as best shown in Figure 2.The upper conveyor 32 also consists of a seriesl of platens 36, whichare likewise connected pivotally lend to end to form a second endlesschain of platens. Each of the platens 36 of the upper conveyor isprovided with a pair of spaced outwardly projectnally spaced `pairs oftransversely spaced star wheels 44 and 44-a`and 46 and 46-a mountedxedly on spaced transversely extending shafts 48l and '49, respectively.Theends of the shafts 48 and 49 are journalled'in bearing blocks 5|secured by bolts 52 to the lower frame structure 2-|. The end of theshaft 48 on which the star wheels 44 and 44--a '(see Fig. 9) are keyedprojects outwardly of the lower frame structure 2| on the side'adjacentthe 'star wheel, 44-0, (see Fig. 2) and' has a large gear wheel 53mounted xedly on the projecting end thereof. The gear wheel 53 is, inturn,'driven by a relatively small pinion gear 54 keyed to a stud shaft56 of a conventional reduction gear box 51 mounted on a suitablesupporting platform 58, which is secured to the lower frame structure2|. The reduction gear box 51 is, in turn, driven by means of a belt 59connecting its driven wheel 6| with a conventional electric motor 62(see Fig. 9), which is also suitably mounted to the lower framestructure 2|. Each of the star wheels 44 and 44--a are provided at eachof their corners with grooves or notches 63 for engaging the axle bars38 of 'the lower platens 33 for driving the lower conveyor along itscircular trackway 28 and 3U.

The star wheels 46 Aand 46--a, which are mounted on the opposite 'end ofthe lower frame structure 2| are, in turn, driven by the axle bars 38 ofthe platens 33 engaging their corresponding notches 64 as said axle barsare moved along their respective trackway 28. The star wheels 46 and4|'-ar are keyed to their shaft 49 by means 'of a key 41 (see Fig. 5),and consequently cause the shaft 4'9-to rotate with them. The shaft 49has a large cam wheel keyed thereto (see Figs. 2 and 4) for reasons tobe hereinafter described in greater detail.

It will be apparentthat no separate driving mechanism is required foroperating the upper conveyor 32, but, when the apparatus is assembled,the projecting lugs 31 of the upper plates 36'which are in juxtapositionwith certain of the lower platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3| will bemountedv in' engagement with the recesses 34 thereof. In'thisarrangement, the movement of the lower conveyor 3| will vbe impartedtothe upper conveyor 32, and the projecting lugs 31 of succeedingplatens 36` will engage the recesses 34 of succeeding platens 33,causing synchronous movement of thetwo conveyors 3| and 32 whenever thelower conveyor 3| is being operated. Since a large section of thetrackway 28 of the lower level of theupper conveyor k32 is missing (seeFig. 1), it will be obvious that the platens 36 of the upper conveyor 32at' such point will have a tendency to sag or drop down and rest on thebread slices 66 are mounted on the.. platens 33 of.y

the lower .conveyor 3|, they will havev a tendency to support thesagging weight of the'platens 33 of the upper conveyor 3 2. (as bestshown in Fig. 5), and will be under the pressure of their weightduring-the toastingy period along that portion of its travel which isdevoid of supporting trackway.`

The platens 33 and 36 ofthe conveyors 3| and 32. may be heated in anysuitable manner suflicient to ytoast the bread slices 66 wedgedtherebetween.. One method of heating 'the platens 33 of the lowerconveyor 3| is shown inFig.` 4, and consistsof a series oflongitudinally spaced and `transversely extendinggas burners 61 mountedbetween 'the opposite sides of the lower frame structure 2| immediatelybelow the underside of its top row of `platens 33 thereof. Eachvgasburner consists of a, perforated pipe coupling 61 mountedon a supportingpipe 68 to provide a series of transversely spaced gas jets.. Each pipe68 is,`in turn, connected adjacent the outer side of the frame structureto a main high pressure controlling the iiow of gas thereto. The burners61 may be lit in any conventional manner, and, by means of the valves1|, it is possible to vary the heat of ltlflefplatens 133 bycontrollingthe number of burners in operation or by controlling the sizeof the flame of each burner. The platens 36 of the upper conveyor aresimilarly heated (see Fig. 5) byan independent series of longitudinallyvspaced and transversely extending gas burners 72 positioned immediatelybelow the underside Vof the upper level of platens 33. Each burner 'l2consists ofi a perforated coupling mounted on a supporting pipe 13. The'pipe 'i3 is provided with-.a .manuallyoper-able control valve ld, andis connected beyond the yvalve 'Tld to a main high pressure gas line 18extendinglongitudinally along one side of the upper supporting structure24. l(See-Fig. 9.) l .f

Referring now to Figure 5, there vis `shown the mechanism for`sinfiultaneously cutting or slicing a plurality of bread `loaves, 8|,which are confined in a suitable bread'magazine 82, which is mountedtransversely of the lower frame structure 2| above andadjacentftheforward endfof the 'lower conveyor 3|, and'immediately in ffrontof saidbread magazine. The bread magazine 82 consists vof a plurality oftubular members 83, providing a series of transversely spacedl pockets,each adapted to receive a plurality-of bread loaves 8| stackedvertically therein, each pocketihavng a cross-sectional `shapesubstantially the v"size and shapelof the bread loaves 8|.

The lcutting or slicing mechanism consists of a pair of transverselyspaced angle 'iron supporting brackets 84 mounted in suitable lmanner onopposite sides of the frame Vstructure 2l. A tubular bar 36 is mountedby Welding or other suitable meanson the 'brackets ,84,"andprojectsoutwardly on opposite sides of the frame structure 2|, as best shown inFig. 4. 'The bar l.'86 has a'xed stud starts-l mounted adjacentone endthereof, which projects `inwardly -of the apparatus,'and is adapted to'support Van idler pulley wheel 88. The Aopposite end of the vbar 8E hasa suitable" shaft 89 TVextending transversely there-l through andprojecting outwardly'on `opposite sides thereof. The shaft' 89, which is`journalled in suitable bearing blockslgl "('see Fig.` "1), ,-has -adriving pulley'wheel 92f^keyed^to`its` linner fend,

. with the-driving pulley wheel 33.

which is identical in size and shape to the fidler pulley wheel 38.Y Theopposite end of the shaft 89, which projects away from the apparatus,has a driving pulley 93 keyed thereto, which, in turn, is connected by abelt 04 to a driving pulley 98 of a conventional electric motor 3lconnected to a source of electric power (not shown). An endless bandcutting blade |00 is mounted between the two transversely spaced pulleywheels 88 and 03, and is driven by its frictional engagement t will bereadily apparent that the cutting blade |00 is adapted to be drivencontinuously and independently of the movement of the conveyors 3| and32. It will also be noted that the blade |00 has the lower side of itscutting edge ground to a sharply tapered point |0|, as best shown inFigs. 10 to 19, to provide a relatively sharp knife outn ting edge thatreduces materially the waste in slicing the-bread loaves 8| intorelatively thin bread slices 66.

`The rapidly revolving endless cutting blade i430 must obviously be heldin a Xed horizontal plane extendingtransversely adjacent the front andbottom of the reciprocating bread magazine 82 if the bread slices 66 areto be cut uniformly. The relative positions of the several cutting bladeholding means are best shown in Fig. 3, and consist of spaced pairs ofidentical horizontal roller guide members |02, and spaced identicalvertical roller guide members |03 mounted, as hereinafter described, ona transversely extending .bed plate |04 bolted at opposite ends to arail of a longitudinally extending trackway |07| mounted on one of theside plates 23 by bolts |03.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, each rollei` guide membez1 |02consists of a T-shaped bracket ill, secured by bolts ||2 vto the bedplate |04, and provided with vertically spaced horizontally extendinginternally threaded apertures H3 therethrough.' Tap bolts H4, havingslotted heads, as indicated at |116, and threaded end Shanks are adaptedto be mounted threadingly in each of the apertures i3, providingsuitable journals for rotatably mounting the guide rollers I I8. Thehorizontal guide rollers |||l are spaced vertically a distance suncientto permit the rotating endless cutting blade |01] to pass therebetween.The bed plate |04 has an upwardly extending bar mounted xedly in anysuitable manner adjacent its outer edge to provide a flange, asindicated at I9.

The mounting for the vertical roller guide members |03 is shown-indetail in Figure 8, and consists of a bracket |2| mounted adjacent eachend of a bed plate |22 by means of suitable bolts |23. The bed plate |22has its lower inner edge tapered, as indicated at 12d (see Fig. 10), andhas an upstanding flange bar |25 secured along its opposite edge. The-bed plate |22 is mounted between the trackways |0'| by means ofsuitable bolts |26. The bracket l2! has a vertically ex tendinginternally threaded aperture 21 adapted to receive a tap bolt |23,providing a suitable journal mounting for the vertically extending guideroller |29 to revolve thereon. It will be noted that the guide roller|29, which is free to' revolve on the bolt |28, is mounted so that its.circumferential edge projects a slight distance beyond the tapered edgeld of the `bed plate i 22, and is adapted to engage frictionally therear edge of the endless cutting blade |00, keeping it in a`transversely extending plane as it passes in front of the breadmagazine `82.` 'Referring now to Figures l, 3, 5 and 1-0 to Alll,

there is shown in detail the features of the reciprocating breadmagazine 82, which is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of theforward end of the lower conveyor 3| on its trackway |01. The breadmagazine 62 is mounted on a reciprocating bread magazine carriage 85,consisting of a pair of transversely extending spaced cross-bars |3| and|32 (see Fig. 5), which support the same in a vertical position abovethe front end of the lower supporting structure 2| and immediately infront of the cutting blade |66. The cross-bars |3| and |32, extendinglaterally of the supporting structure 2|, carry end :plates |33 securedby bolts |34. Each of the end plates |33 is provided with an elongatedhorizontally extending aperture |36 to permit the endless cutting blade|66 to operate therethrough. Of course, it is understood that the endsof the cutting blade |66 are not secured to form an endless band untilthey have been threaded through the slots |36 of the end plates |33. Apair of vertically spaced flanged rollers |31 and |38 are mountedrotatably on the inner side of each of the end plates |33, and areadapted to engage opposite sides of the horizontal trackway |61. Theaxle for each of the upper rollers |31 projects through the end plates|33, providing an outwardly projecting stud |36 adapted to have a rollermember 14| j'ournalled thereon.

The means for reciprocating the bread magazine carriage 85 is mounted ona projecting end of the shaft 49, which passes through the star wheel 46and extends outwardly of the frame structure 2|. This means consists ofa cam wheel |42 keyed thereto by a key |43, as best shown in Figure 1.The cam wheel |42 is provided Iwith a continuous series of camconformations |44 along its circumferential edge, which are adapted tobe engaged by a cam stud |46 mounted intermediate the ends of a camlever |41. The cam lever |41 has its lower end mounted iixedly by a pin|48'to one end of a transversely extending shaft |49 journalled insuitable bearing blocks A sec- 0nd cam lever |62 is correspondinglymounted xedly by a pin |48 to the opposite end of the shaft |49,projecting outwardly ofthe lower frame structure 2|. Each of the camlevers |41 and |52 have their upper ends bifurcated, and theirrespective bifurcations |53 are adapted to engage the adjacent rollermember |4| projecting outwardly from the end plates |33 of the breadmagazine carriage 85.

A tension spring |56 (see Fig. l), having one end connected tothe camlever |41` intermediate its cam stud |46 and bifurcations |53, asindicated at |56, and Ahaving its opposite end fastened securely to theframe structure 2|, as indicated at |51, serves to urge the cam stud |46tightly at all times against its cam wheel |42 and into its camconformations |44. When the cam stud |46 is in the position shown inFigure 1, which is at the bottom of one of the cam conformations |44,the bread magazine carriage 65 is in a position in front of the cuttingblade |66, which position is more clearly illustrated in Figure 10. Asthe cam stud |46 rides out of the cam conformation |44, the cam lever|41 is forced inwardly against the tension of the spring |54, drawingthe bread magazine carriage 86 inwardly, forcing its confined breadloaves 8| into and through the cutting blade |06, as illustrated inFigure 1l. The spring tensioning means |54 obviously tendsto force thecam stud |46 tightly against the cam wheel |42, making certain that itis in operating engagement therewith at all times. Y

It will be apparent from the diagrammatic views shown in Figures l0 to14, both inclusive, that the bread magazine 62, which is mounted betweenthe transversely extending supporting bars |3| and |32, is positioned aShort distance above the level of the bread supporting bed plate |64.The bread magazine 82 is provided with a U-shaped guard |58, whichextends slightly below the bottom of the bread magazine 82. The guard|58 serves to hold the lower portion of the bread loaves 8|, which isthat portion about to be severed therefrom' as a bread slice 66, againsthorizontal movement during the slicing operation. It will be noted thatthe bed plates |64 and |22 are in different horizontal planes, and thatthe bed plate |22 is positioned above the bed plate |64 a distanceequal-to the thickness of a cut bread slice 66.A It will also be readilyapparent from the diagrammatic illustrations of Figures 10 to 14, bothinclusive, that the bed plate |64 serves to support the bread loaves 8|prior to the cutting of a bread slice 66, and that the bed plate |22serves to support the bread loaves 8| after the bread slices 66 havebeen cut and until the bread carriage returns to its normal position.The bread loaves 6| will be fed by gravity onto the lower bed plate |04when the reciprocating bread magazine carriage 85 moves outwardly on itsreturn stroke, as

best shown in Figure 14.

Referring now to Figures 16 to 19, both inclusive, there is shown amodified form of bread magazine carriage |6|, in which provision hasbeen made for moving the cut bread slices 66 inwardly of the lowerconveyor1 3| and arranging them in a regular and orderly manner inlongitudinally spacedrows extending transversely of the platens 33thereof. In this modification, the final position of the cut breadslices 66 is not left to chance, but the bread magazine carriage |61 isprovidedwithan encircling U-shaped arm |62, having a flat lowerreceiving platform |63, provided with a downwardly projecting pusher arm|64 adapted to glide over the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3|. Inall other respects, the bread magazine carriage 6| is identical with thebread magazine carriage 85 and operates in a similar manner. In thismodified construction, the bread slices 66, when cut from theirrespective bread loaves 8|, drop onto the inner part of the receivingarm or platform |63. When the bread magazine carriage |`6| is in itsnormal position (shown in Fig. 16), it is ready for cutting a pluralityof bread slices. When the bread slices 66 are cut, they gravitate ontothe receiving platform |63 (see Fig. 17). When the bread carriage |6|returns to its normal position, the cut bread slices 66 are engaged bythe inner edge of the stationary bed plate |04, which causes them to beforced oif the receiving platform |63 ontothe topof the platen 33 of thelower conveyor 3| passing therebelow (see Fig. 18). On the next inwardlymoving or cutting stroke of the bread magazine carriage |6| against therapidly revolving cutting blade |60, the forward edge |64 of thereceiving platform |63, as it is moved inwardly, will engage the breadslices 66 resting on theplatens 33 and move them further inwardly andinto an orderly transversely extending row. The bread slices 66 will bespaced 1ongitudinally in rows transversely of the platens 33 since theyare moving continuously, and will have moved forwardly a suicientdistance during the period of time that the bread carriage magazine |6 Iis reciprocating to form a space between each of said rows of breadslices.

In theroperation ofthe apparatus shown in Figuresfl to'l5, bothinclusive, itwill be assumed.l that thegasbu'rner's '61"ha`ve`been'f'lit and the conveyor platens 33 and36 have been heated 'tothdgreeof heat necessary to toast the bread slices 66 positionedtherebetween to the desired degree of1brown'nes's; that the twoconveyors 3| and =3`2 fare operating continuously andv synchronously;that the bread magaz'in'subdivisions 83 have beeniilled with Iloavesofbread8| v; and that the bread cutting blade L isbeing driven in acontinuousk manner. i v

'lfhe continuous movement of the lower conyeyor 3| causesthe shaft 49 tobe turned by movenient of its keyed star wheels" 46 `and 4`6`a as theconveyor, axle bars 38 engage their respective notches' 64 in passingtherearound. Turning of y confined bread loaves 8| across the outer edgeof the rapidly revolving cutting blade |66, causing a bread slice 66 tobe cut from each of the bottom loaves in the bread magazine. The cutbread slices 65 will drop onto the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3|passing therebelow. By the time the bread mazagine carriage 85 isreturned by the action of its bifurcated levers |46 and |52 being drawninwardly by the spring urging means |54 to its normal position (see Fig.l0), the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3| will have moved inwardly adistance sufficient to carry the last cut bread slices 66 out` of theway of the next'to be severed bread slices.

The cutl bread slices 66 are a cross-sectional slice of the bread loaves8|, which are especially baked to the size and shape desired in thefinal IMelba toast product |13. These bread slices 65 are cut to athickness slightly larger than the desired thickness of the finishedtoasted bread |16,

Lbecause they are compacted, under pressure of the upper platens 36,during the toasting operation. The toasted bread slices |10 afterpassing between the platens 33 and 36 of the conveyors 3|` and 32 willremain on the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3 I, and at its endgravitate into a receiving receptacle |1| (seeFig. l5), whereby they maybe transported to a packaging operation (notshown). The pressureresulting from the weight of the upper platens 36 on the bread slices 65compresses `the cellular bread slice 66 and holds it under suchcompression during the entire toasting period so that no warpage cantake place. While warpage of the toasted bread slice |16 wouldnot renderit unfit for sale or use, it does have several disadvantages whichshould be obviated. Warped toasted bread slices require greaterpackaging space per unit of weight; are much more fragile, resulting inconsiderable breakage in shipment, which is unsatisfactory to theaverage purchaser; and are hard to spread with butter or other ediblespreads since they are quite brittle and have a tendency to break intonumerous small pieces under the spreading pressure of a table knife,especially if the toasted slice is being held on a flat surface, such asa plate. 'l

Itwill not'be` practical lto establish a table of times and temperaturesfor making Melba toast in this manner since each bread formula producesa bread having an entirely diierent toasting characteristic. Somebreads,especially the rye .t and brown breads,require more `than twice as muchtoasting time as other breads to produce the same degree o'fbrownnessunder the same toasting temperatures," Some people like their breadtoasted to a very 'dark brown, just short of burnt, while others requireavery light brownl toast. Various markets have different ideasof what isdesirable in the way of toasted breadl slicesgand all of these factorsinu'stfbe taken into consideration by the manufacturer'. In the presentapparatus, different types of'toast may' be producedy in several'ways,namely:` by Vvarying the speed'ofthe driving motor 62 =or 'reductiongearing 51 to cause the lower conveyor 3| to V'operate ata slower orfasterspeed; and by turning off some of the gas burners, or 'turning allof them down to permit only a small flame, each of which is controlledby means of a separate manual valve, to reduce the temperature of theconveyor platens between which the bread slices are to be toasted. Nodetails are given for varying'the speed of the motor 62 or the reductiongearing 51 since such devices are of a conventional construction andform no part ofthe present invention.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that themachine will cut and toast the bread slices without requiring constantattention `of an operator. The only need for an operator is to keep theseveral bread magazines filled at 'all times with bread loaves, but, ifno bread loaf is positioned in any one or more of the bread magazines,it will not affect the operation of the machine, since it `will continueto cut `bread slices from such magazines as have bread loaves therein.In this manner, the production of the machine may be varied, butobviously such a method is not as eiicient as those describedhereinbefore.

Although I have shown and described in detail only two modications ofthe invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the artthat the same is not to be so limited, but that various othermodications may be made therein without departing from the spiritthereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

YWhat I claim is:

, l. A machine for toasting bread slices cornprising a lower endlessconveyor having a plurality of platens connected longitudinally bytransversely extending pivotal means, said platens adapted to intert toform substantially an unbroken horizontal surface for supporting aplurality of bread slices, an upper endless conveyor having a pluralityof platens connected longitudinally by transversely extending pivotalmeans, said platens adapted to interiit to form substantially anunbroken horizontal surface for engaging thebread slices, a series ofplatens of the upper conveyor operating in juxtaposition to the platensof the lower conveyor being free of lateral supports intermediate theirends and adapted to engage and be supported` by the bread slices carriedby the platens of the lower conveyor, means for heating the platens ofeach conveyor, and means for operating said conveyors insynchronization.

2. A machine for toasting bread slices comprising a lower conveyorhaving a series of platens adapted to support a plurality of breadslices, an upper conveyor having a series of platens adapted to besupported by the bread slices car-- ried by the lower conveyor thereby,means for yheating the platens of each conveyor, means for driving oneof said'conveyors, and means carried by the platens of Vthe drivenconveyor adapted to engage with means carried by the platensA of theother conveyor for causing the same to be moved in unison'therewith. f

, 3. A machine `for toasting bread slicescompris ing a relatively longendless lowerconveyor'having a series of platens each adapted tosupporta plurality of bread slices, a relatively short upper conveyor adaptedto be operatedin unison with the lower conveyor intermediate its ends,said upper conveyor having a series of platens adapted to bevsupportedby the Vbread slices on the platens yof the lower conveyor, independentmeans for heating` the platens of each conveyor, means for driving oneof said conveyors,` and recess means formed in the platens of saiddriven 12 conveyor adapted to` engage with projecting means vcarried bythe platens of the other conveyor for driving the same in unisontherewith.

HARRY G. TATOSIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofv record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Marriott Dec, 17, 1940

